Zabriskie won the Bakersfield TT by a significant margin.
There has been lots of drama with plenty to talk about since our last race post. First, the Giro continues to provide exciting racing as the Pink Jersey has changed hands multiple times between Rodriguez and Hesjedal. It’s the Giro d’Italia at its finest. With Frank Schleck abandoning on Stage 15, it’s also become apparent that the Schlecks only race twice a year at the Tour de France and Liege Bastogne Liege. It’s almost as if Frank was looking for an excuse to abandon the Giro so he could resume his Tour training and join his brother. A quick examination of riders who have actually won the Tour and major stage races shows a different character than what we’ve seen from the Schlecks. Consider, Cadel Evans rode stages 8-21 of the 2010 Tour de France with a broken arm and still didn’t abandon. Just Saying. On the second rest day of the Giro, Joaquim Rodriguez Oliver sits in Pink. Mark Cavendish wears the Red Jersey. Matteo Rabottini (Farnese Vini) wears the Blue (mountains) Jersey, and Sergio Luis Henao Montoya (Sky Procycling) is the Best Young Rider.
As the TOC finishes up a few things have become apparent. First, Robert Gesink is back and will contend for a podium spot at the Tour. Second Dave Zabriskie seems to be on form for an Olympic Medal, his major objective of the year. Lastly, Peter Sagan is an animal. It’s hard to see him not winning at least one stage at the Tour now. Certainly the competition will be fiercer, but it’s not like Tom Boonen and Heinrich Haussler aren’t elite level sprinters. Robert Gesink (Rabobank), Dave Zabriskie and Tom Danielson finished 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in the General Classification. Peter Sagan won the Points Classification (Green Jersey) and the Best Young Rider. Sébastian Salas (Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies) won the Mountains Classification.
I had a chance to check out the TT stage in Bakersfield and snap a few picks. Below are some things I found interesting that you may not have seen elsewhere. Click through the image to see large files. Enjoy.
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- Leiphiemer had a big pack of ice on his back because of the heat.
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- Zabriskie won the Bakersfield TT by a significant margin.
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- Haussler prefers standard Dura Ace over Di2. His Garmin pedals don’t yet appear to have a power meter since he still rides an SRM.
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- Zabrisky likes a lot of tape on his 3T Ergonova Team Bars.
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- Zabriskie was one of the only Garmin riders on the S5
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- Nokon derailler cable housing on Zabriskie’s S5
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- Zabriskie’s S5
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- Tate Industries Bar Fly Garmin Mount places the computer in front of the bars like an SRM
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- The Columbia-Coldeportes Bianchis had custom team colors
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- Columbia-Coldeportes Bianchi Pico Chrono
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- Many Coldeportes riders chose to use their Bianchi Sempres for the TT
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- Columbia-Coldeportes Bianchi Sempre
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- Interestingly, the Optum riders weren’t using Sram’s R2C shifters
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- Orbea Ordu’s ready for racing
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- Stinger 9/Stinger Disc was the most common used by the Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies riders
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- The Orbea Ordu of Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
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- The Omega Pharma team mechanics and Specialized engineer Chris D’Alusio discuss Levi Leiphiemer’s Specialized Shiv TT.
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- Many riders had huge gears for the fast descents on the Bakersfield TT course.
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- German TT National Champion Bert Grabsch gets custom colors
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- Boonen prefers the Specialized Chicane saddle on his TT bike
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- Ritchey provides the cockpits for the United Healthcare team
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- United Healthcare riders have the option of running any Ritchey stems. This one prefers the WCS 4-Axis.
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- Most United Healthcare riders chose alloy stems like the Ritchey C260.
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- Bright Orange R45 hubs
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- Most United Healthcare bikes had a mixture of new and old Sram Red components.
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- Since Neil Pryde doesn’t make a TT bike, there were a few different unlabeled models ridden by the team.
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- Jason McCartney’s Neil Pryde Diablo
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- Cavendish’s Rear Derailleur has seen better days.
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- Cav likes his brake levers adjusted close to the bars
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- Mark Cavendish’s Green Jersey winning S-Works Venge
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- Specialized had some of the HTC Highroad bikes on display. Tony Martin’s S-Works Shiv TT.
